Canadian and U.S. manufacturing groups move to harmonize skill standards and certifications

Life might just get a bit easier for some Canadian and American manufacturers.

The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) and the U.S. Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to harmonize standards and certifications for front-line manufacturing production workers.

The deal was announced at the annual conference of the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO), held on September 28 in Windsor, Ont.

CME and MSSC will also initiate communications to their respective manufacturing communities encouraging them to recognize both the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) and CME Production Assemblers and Operators certifications as equivalent credentials that can facilitate cross-border worker movement for job assignments; promote equivalent hiring and promotion processes; provide preferential consideration to individuals possessing these credentials; create common performance metrics and consistent work practices for the front-line workforce in supply chain companies; and enhance the international recognition of both CME and MSSC credentials.

“This harmonization should facilitate the development by manufacturers in both countries of world-class front-line workers with the skills needed able to meet the dual challenges of global economic competitiveness and accelerating technological change,” MSSC chair and CEO Leo Reddy said in a statement.